//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Wenches, Wine, and Wistful, World-weary Wanderers // Story: Equestria Girls: Caverns and Critters // by Loyal //------------------------------// Equestria Girls: Caverns and Critters Chapter 1: Wenches, Wine, and Wistful, World-weary Wanderers ---------- The treetop village of Solace is the sort of place adventures start. If it doesn’t serve as their genesis, it’s at least a stop along the way. A marvel of ancient nature magic has woven branches and wood together to form impressive walkways, supplemented by suspended bridges and other means of transportation. Every home in the village sits well above the forest floor, and to anyone who doesn’t know what they’re looking for, they could just as easily pass by the place, having missed the soft sounds of conversation or passing feet among the rushing of wind through leaves, or even their own breath. Solace was and always has been a place of rest; be it a passing army seeking refuge from an enemy force, or a traveler with a heavy pack (or a heavy heart ) finding lifted spirits above the hard ground, among the trees and leaves and birds. For ages upon ages, the small village of Solace has played host to a thousand different stories from hundreds of travelers. And today was not unlike any other day. Clutching posters taken from cities all across the realm, or bearing the whisper of words taken on the wind of gossip, six brave souls descended into the Solace Valley, bearing in them many things – a hope for a better world, a lust for the unknown, security in the form of coin and employ, duty to deity and order, a secret service to an old debtor, and an unbridled joy for the parts unknown – but above all else, the six carried a spark… A desire for something… Different. And different was what they would all find, before the night was out. O-O-O-O “Holy crap, Twilight, that was AMAZING.” Rainbow Dash’s jaw hung open, her expression nearly mirroring the other girls around the table. “You… How do you do that? I mean, did you have this planned or are you just flyin’ by the seat of your pants?” “I mean, I’ve had an idea in my head for a while, but I’m kinda just filling in the gaps here.” Twilight blushed, retreating behind her screen a little. “Am I too descriptive?” “Hardly!” Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a reprimanding swat, urging her to be quiet. “Y’all are doin’ jes’ fin-“ “SHH!” Fluttershy shushed them all with an uncharacteristic sound, glaring around the table. “I want to hear more about Solace. Keep going, Twilight.” O-O-O-O The Solace Tavern and Inn was a godsend for many, especially a stout dwarf bearing with him a shield and sword, having come from mountains far, far to the North. For others, it was but a short hike from the nearest city, be it Azimandas to the West, or Brackenbay to the South. Others still found their way from the wilderness, from untamed forests and uncharted mountains just East of Solace. But from whatever paths they trod, the adventurers found themselves climbing a long, winding series of steps set into the side of one of the larger trees in Solace. It was one of only a few ways up into the bustling tree village, and provided a wonderful view of the surrounding homes and businesses along the way. Their arrivals were staggered, from a comely sorceress arriving early in the morning, to the surly dwarf paladin arriving later in the evening. O-O-O-O “Really, AJ? A dwarf?” “They get constitution bonuses. Shaddup.” Applejack scowled at Rarity, pulling her character sheet closer. O-O-O-O Although it was perhaps one of the only things in the entire village made from anything other than wood, a massive stone hearth provided the inn with delightful warmth, its flickering light complimented by only a few chandeliers and candles spread about. While many of the common areas were as bright as day, corners and along the walls were shrouded in shadow, further enhanced by the cloying, ever-present cloud of pipe tobacco. It smelled of home; firewood and delicious food, strong spirits, laughter, and oak. For some, how Solace had managed to remain undamaged by the myriad of wars and conflicts that had ravaged the countryside around it had been a mystery up until crossing that threshold. It was the sort of feeling that said ’anyone can enjoy this – from the mightiest knight to the lowliest goblin.’ Alas, the six adventurers hadn’t arrived for smells and food; no, they were here for something much greater. A sense of wonderment and adventure filled them all, and whispers of dark things were in the cracks between the branches, through which both the smoke from the fireplace and omens filtered. O-O-O-O “Alright, so you’re all in this tavern. What do you want to do?” Twilight peered around the table with a warm smile. There was a moment of silence as Sunset processed the question, but she was the first to speak. “What, you mean like, what do we want to do? Us?” “No, not quite.” Twilight rolled her hand. “Remember, I told you all this was a role-playing game. Your characters are just that – yours. I cannot directly control them or force them to act. That’s up to you six. So, you tell me what you want to happen, and then I make the story around it.” “Okay, so you’re literally flying by the seat of your pants here, then.” Rainbow Dash guffawed. “I can dig it. Well, if that’s the case, then I-“ O-O-O-O In through the door of the Solace Tavern and Inn bursts a tall, striking figure. He is grizzled and unshaved, but his outfit appears well-kept, as does the weapon draped across his shoulders. The man swaggers up to the carved bar, slapping two gold pieces down and proudly proclaiming a drinking challenge to anyone willing to accept. His speech is a little thick, and he appears crass, but he is muscular and moves with a grace born of battlefield experience. Never being one to pass up a challenge when ale is on the table, the dwarf is the first to speak up. “I’ll accept yer challenge, laddie! An’ don’t skimp on th’ gold when yer face is on the floor!” O-O-O-O “Wow, AJ. Nice accent.” “Big Mac taught me some things.” Applejack blushed once more, rubbing the back of her neck. “Too much?” “No, no, it’s good!” Twilight smiled warmly. “It really helps get into character. Nevermind the two of you are playing guys- “What’s so wrong with playing a guy?” Rarity piped in, her cheeks puffing up. “I rather like the roguish charm of a well-muscled warrior.” “Or the slight features of an elvish rogue?” Twilight piqued an eyebrow at the fashionista. “He would be very easy to fit with a dress, that’s all I’ll say on the matter.” “Right, then. So…” O-O-O-O Patrons of the bar either gather around the drinking contest, placing bets and cheering on their favorite, or they stay in their seats, shaking their heads with wistful smiles. Among all of the guests at the tavern that evening, though, one in particular doesn’t seem to enjoy the noise as much. To anyone with an even moderately keen eye, they would see the man with his back to the wall, a smoldering pipe clenched between his teeth and a wary eye kept on the others in the tavern. O-O-O-O “So this is an important thing that happens quite often in these situations,” Twilight derailed the narrative to look at all the others. “I’m going to ask you all to make a ‘check,’ specifically, a ‘spot check.’ I need you all to roll your D20’s, and add your ‘spot’ modifier. For most of you, this will just be your Intelligence modifier. Some of you have put skill points into that, though, so it’ll be easier for you to succeed.” “And in my case…” Sunset frowned at her character sheet. “Right, you’re a sorceress, and you have a familiar. An owl, right? You get plus two to low-light and shadowy spot checks, so add an additional two on top of whatever else you have.” There was a series of clattering and muttering as the girls all rolled their plastic dice, consulted character sheets, and reported their numbers to Twilight. Twilight’s fingers flew over the keyboard of her laptop, and she scribbled down a few notes before continuing on. O-O-O-O Of the group of adventurers, only four of them noticed the man in the corner, and on the table before him was a series of scrolls, rolled and piled neatly. Each one was fixed with a wax seal, and the man would occasionally glance at them, as if reminding himself they were there. They remembered that a man would be seeking adventurers in Solace, and he certainly fit the bill. The sorceress was the first to approach him, right around the same time that the drinking contest began. “Are you… the… ‘Ambassador of Brackenbay?’” She asked timidly, though her fears were dissipated as the man pulled his pipe from his mouth and smiled at her. “I am. I see you have my flier.” He waved at the parchment in her hand, taken from a posting board in the city she had come from. “I’m seeking six people for an assignment, so you’re welcome to join me until we have enough. You made good time, by the way.” “Oh, thank you.” The sorceress took the seat opposite the man, a dusky owl fluttering across the room to light deftly on her shoulder. The man cast the odd woman a curious glance before speaking again. “My name is Matthias, of Brackenbay. I’m glad you answered my summons, as there’s a dire problem in my home.” “Can you tell me anything about this problem?” “Only that it’s best we speak of this elsewhere.” He peered about searchingly. “Prying ears, you know.” As the night wore on, three others would join the man, a slight man shroud in a cloak, a mysterious bow-wielding Halfling, and a beautiful, dark-skinned human woman who wore a tunic that appeared to be woven of leaves. “Hmm, we cannot leave without at least six of you.” The man spoke, having fallen quiet after each brief introduction. By this point, however, the drinking contest at the bar had reached a fever pitch. The two contestants had matched each other pint-for-pint for almost the past hour, and their audience was cheering raucously. “Drink! Drink! Drink!” They chanted, waving coin purses and stomping boots. The dwarf tiled his flagon back, slamming it into the wood with finality. “Eight!” He roared, red in the face and a fire in his eyes. The human swayed on his stool, blinking unevenly at the dwarf as he groped for his drink. The bartender pushed it into his hands, patting his shoulder before going right back to cheering and placing bets – which favored the dwarf considerably. “DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!” The patrons shouted, urging the man on. With no small amount of trepidation and sloshing, the man downed his pint. A few drops remained on his beard, and he held the pint warily over the bar. The whole tavern fell silent, even those who hadn’t been looking on before watching in grim silence as the pint wavered, lowered… And clattered to the floor, along with the spent human. A deafening cheer rose up as curses and praises were traded from either side. “I think those are your last two.” The cloaked man spoke quietly, leaning in to the ambassador. The man from Brackenbay grumbled and stood from his seat, ushering the other four along with him as they approached the competitors. Coins and handshakes were being traded back-and-forth, but the ambassador cut into them with a sort of ease borne of politics and slimy, under-handed dealings. He clapped the dwarf on the back, leaning in close to whisper something in his ear. After a hushed exchange and a few fingers, the dwarf and the ambassador hauled the drunken human to his feet, shuffling him along with a whispered promise of ‘reward,’ and ‘coin.’ To the dismay of the patrons, the party of seven left the tavern, the stumbling human supported between the stout dwarf and a cheery halfling. The ambassador stopped to give them a brief explanation just outside of the tavern, before they began crossing the suspended bridges between trees. “We’re moving to the temporary house I’ve been allowed, just a short ways away. I promise, I’ll divulge more information there. You’ll have to forgive me for not speaking in the tavern, but… prying ears and all.” As if to punctuate his point, his eyes flickered to the walkway behind them, leading from the tavern. Two shadowy figures watched the party, but didn’t follow, their head and hands shrouded under heavy cloaks. “Best be movin’, yeah?” “Agreed.” The sorceress strode forth, leading the party further into the town of Solace, her owl perched on her shoulder. Boots (and in one case, bare feet) thumped or thudded across wood planks and woven branches as they traversed the town, though the halfling kept casting a wary glance behind them, to see if the shadowy figures would follow. Once or twice, she could see them, moving through the torchlight in their wake. Nothing came of it until they reached their destination, when the two mysteriously vanished from all sight. The ambassador frowned when the halfling made it known to him, but ushered them inside his temporary home anyways. Once inside, the human had sobered enough to stand on his own, albeit a little shakily. Still, the man locked the door behind them, scanning the walkway outside to ensure they hadn’t been followed, or if they had, their tail wasn’t immediately approaching. “I don’t like the look of this, not one bit.” He griped, turning back to the party as he packed another pipe. “Chances are, I won’t make it out of Solace alive.” “Why do you say that?” The druid spoke, the first words she had shared the entire evening. Concern was apparent on her face. “Those men that were following us, they weren’t men at all.” The ambassador shuddered, glancing outside once more. “They are called Hands. As in, the Hands of Imoheen.” O-O-O-O “Time for another check! This time, I only want you to roll if you have either Spellcraft or Knowledge – Local.” Twilight watched as only Rarity and Sunset rolled their dice. Both girls relayed their information to Twilight, even as Rainbow Dash leaned over to Applejack. “How could I have missed my fortitude save? I rolled a seven.” “An’ y’all were eight pints inta mead. I ain’t never had the stuff, but ah’m sure it’s stronger n’ beer. Ya shouldn’ta picked a drinkin’ contest with a dwarf.” O-O-O-O “I’ve heard of Imoheen.” The cloaked man spoke quietly. “Some say he’s a necromancer. Others say he’s just a wizard, mysterious as they are about whatever it is they do. It doesn’t help that he lives in that old tower outside of Brackenbay, out on the point.” “That’s right.” The ambassador nodded gravely. And he’s-“ “If they’re ‘hands,’ as you say they are, then he’s most certainly a necromancer. They’re puppets, enchanted to act as his eyes and ears, and occasionally his muscle.” The sorceress’ voice was tense with the implication, and her fear allayed to everyone near. Except the fighter, who was looking blearily at the dark-skinned woman. “Yer pretty.” He slurred, wobbling on his feet. O-O-O-O “Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy blushed, retreating behind her hair while she hugged herself. “Stop saying that, it’s creepy!” “Hey, I can’t help it; I’m drunk!” Rainbow Dash rose her hands defensively. “This is what people do when they’re drunk, isn’t it? They hit on cute girls? Twilight said it herself, we gotta role-play.” “Yeah, but-“ “She’s got a point, Fluttershy.” Twilight sighed. “Alcohol most definitely lowers inhibitions and impedes on thinking processes. Which, unless I’m mistaken, you’ve got to be one of the stupidest people I’ve ever seen rolled, Dash.” “Hey!” Rainbow Dash growled. “You said I could take an extra feat if I kept the seven!” “So I did.” Twilight groaned. “And regretting it all the more. Still, of all the people here, I expected you to be the least into the role-playing. You’re… actually sticking to character really well.” Twilight arched an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash. “Any particular reason why?” “What? No, not really.” Dash shrugged. “I just think this whole idea is cool. I mean, you’re doing a really good job of telling the town and the tavern and stuff. I can’t wait to see what happens when we get to fight something.” “I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself, too.” Sunset beamed at Twilight, leaning back. “If we can keep Rainbow Dash from jumping Fluttershy, this could turn out really fun.” “Yes, please, don’t jump on me.” Fluttershy whimpered. “Just tell him to buzz off in-character.” “Okay, then-“ O-O-O-O “Not interested, bub.” The dark-skinned woman growled, giving the fighter a semi-gentle shove. He nevertheless stumbled backwards, sitting roughly down on the floor. A ripple of laughter rolled around before the ambassador stepped forward, speaking once more. “I’ve been followed by those two since I left Brackenbay, and I think Imoheen is onto me. What I have here,” He produced the six scrolls from earlier, and began passing them off to each of the adventurers. “Is all the information on the situation. What I want is this: Investigate these claims against Imoheen. If you can, take care of him yourself. If you feel like you need more help, then you can appeal to the city guard, but only if you’ve got some good, solid evidence.” He gestured for them to open their scrolls, looking out of the window yet again. “The city is prepared to reward you handsomely for taking care of him. But don’t let anyone around town hear you say that, at least until he’s gone. You never know where he’s got informants. Everything’s all in there.” The six of them opened their scrolls (or in the case of the gruff human, opened them upside-down) and browsed the contents. It was a dossier of sorts, with a small map drawn of the area around Brackenbay. On the point of the land, south of the city, was a manor that had once been a light house, and was Imoheen’s current residence. The text in the scroll explained in detail the alleged crimes the magician Imoheen had committed, ranging in everything from abduction to necromancy. “This is all well and good,” the cloaked man rolled his hand. “But how can we trust you? How do we know you’re not a hand yourself?” “He wouldn’t be.” The sorceress shook her head. “Hands can’t talk; at least not without stuttering or sounding off. Plus they’re kind of… jerky. It’s not them controlling their actions, after all.” “Still, you might be in league with him. How can we know you’re not-“ In a rush, two torches burst through the front windows of the home, clattering across the floor towards them. The flames leapt to life immediately, and preceded two cloaked figures jumping in through the broken windows, their weapons drawn. O-O-O-O “Woah! That was sudden!” Rainbow Dash blinked down at her character sheet. “What, uuh… What now?” “Now?” Twilight tented her fingers, grinning at them all over the rim of her glasses. “Roll for initiative.”